Keep road and sidewalk salt away from plants. Construct a screen of burlap, if necessary, to keep salt spray off plants.

"Leaf" through nursery catalogs and make plans for landscape and home orchard additions. Order plants early for best selection.

Early spring-flowering trees and shrubs such as forsythia, crabapple, flowering quince, flowering dogwood and honeysuckle can be forced for early indoor blooms by placing cut branches in water in a warm location.

GARDEN (Flowers, vegetables and small fruits)

Send for seed catalogs for the garden.

Sketch your garden plans on paper, including what to grow, spacing, arrangement and number of plants needed.

Order seeds and plants as early as possible for best selection.

Wood ashes from the fireplace can be spread in the garden, but don't overdo it. Wood ashes increase soil pH, and excess application can make some nutrients unavailable for plant uptake. Have soil tested to be certain of the pH before adding wood ash.